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1969 Map of Cliff

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Cliff
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Cliff sits at the base of a dramatic geological transition where the high plateau of the Book Cliffs drops away into the arid basin floor. This 1969 field-checked survey highlights the critical infrastructure required to navigate and survive this eastern Utah environment, notably the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad corridor. The rail line follows the level terrain west of the escarpment, providing a lifeline through a landscape defined by seasonal water management, as evidenced by Desert Reservoir No 2.

Rising sharply to the east, the Elliott Mesa and Mt Elliott dominate the horizon, carved by deep incisions like Long Canyon. To the north, the Price River cuts through the desert, while the higher elevations toward Middle Mtn show the complex topography of the Beckwith Plateau. The map is a record of mid-century land use, showing scattered drill holes and primitive jeep trails that indicate early exploration into the remote reaches of Emery County.